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October 25th, 2011 120 comments

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Doctor Who: The Sensorites DVD

Doctor Who: The Sensorites

Starring: William Hartnell , Jacqueline Hill

The Doctor, Ian, Barbara and Susan land on a spaceship orbiting a distant and mysterious world, where a human crew lies frozen somewhere between life and death.

The TARDIS arrives on board a spaceship in orbit around a planet called the Sense-Sphere.

The alien Sensorites have trapped the ship’s human crew, Captain Maitland, Carol and John, in a state of semi-permanent paralysis. When the Doctor investigates, the aliens steal the lock mechanism from the TARDIS, thus trapping him and his companions.

The Sensorites allow all but Maitland and Barbara down to the planet, where Ian falls ill from a sickness that has been wiping out the Sensorites. The Doctor finds a cure. His investigations into the cause of the sickness are hampered by the subversive activities of the City Administrator, but eventually he uncovers three deranged human survivors from a past expedition who have been adding deadly nightshade to the water supply.

• Audio Commentary
• Looking for Peter
• Vision On
• Secret Voices of the Sense Sphere
• Photo Gallery
• PDF materials: Radio Times Listings, original design drawings
• Production Note Subtitles
• Digitally remastered picture and sound quality

Original VHS cover and information

The TARDIS crew arrive on a seemingly deserted spaceship only too find what appears to be the dead bodies of the ship’s original crew.

But the crewrmembers are far from dead – instead they are under some form of mental attack that keeps them prisoners in space.The ship is trapped in orbit around the Sense-Sphere, home world of the alien Sensorites.

The Doctor, Ian, Barbara and Susan are warned to leave, but before, they can do, so, the TARDIS is attacked, and its lock is stolen.

The Sensorites are using their telepathic powers against the human visitors, to their world. And “the TARDIS crew now find themselves helpless captives of the Sensorites, and their mental powers…

This story was broadcast on BBC1 between 20 June-1 August 1964.


Categorised under: Doctor Who DVDs, DVD

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120 comments

  • The Greater Intelligence

    June 19th, 2013 - 9:58pm

    Why does this story have such a bad reputation? It is one of the best written, directed, and the Sensorites were genius creations that weren’t given enough credit. Peter R. Newman should’ve been allowed to come back and do more, he was one of the mist talented writers the show ever had. This has always been and remains to be my favorite Hartnell story ever (with the exception of ‘The Space Museum), but does anyone have a reason?

    Reply
  • Scott

    February 8th, 2012 - 9:27pm

    booboo, is this story one of the better ones i don’t know if i should buy it or not :S

    Reply
    • booboo

      February 8th, 2012 - 9:35pm

      It ok, has a couple of very good moments

    • Scott

      February 8th, 2012 - 9:38pm

      so what would be a better one to get?

    • booboo

      February 8th, 2012 - 9:41pm

      out of which ones

    • Scott

      February 8th, 2012 - 9:43pm

      first doctor and second

    • booboo

      February 8th, 2012 - 9:45pm

      well they both have some good stories

      My fav 1st doctor

      The Ark
      The space museum

      2nd Doctor

      Tomb of The Cybermen
      Th seeds of death

    • Scott

      February 8th, 2012 - 9:50pm

      ok thanks i will have a look

    • CatManWho

      February 8th, 2012 - 9:59pm

      In terms of value for money “The Beginning” box set (currently £8.49 on Amazon) has 3 stories (13 episodes) on and is cheaper than The Ark (4 episodes).

      2nd Doctor, I think both Tomb and Seeds are marvellous.

  • Radburn

    February 3rd, 2012 - 11:49pm

    Having never seen many of the early Doctor Who I was happy to at last watch this. Hartnell flubbing his lines (as well as the rest of the cast) microphone booms popping into view next to camera shadows – But what still amazes me is how good some of the masks of the time still hold up today. It is such a pity that the BBC junked so much of Hartnell & Troughton’s episodes – A sore loss indeed…

    Reply
    • booboo

      February 4th, 2012 - 9:10am

      some of the best ever stories are sadly missing/ if they ever found the complete power/ evil of the Daleks what a day that would be

    • Radburn

      February 4th, 2012 - 11:39am

      I keep my fingers eternally crossed!

  • cyberking3

    January 28th, 2012 - 9:15am

    just got this in the post today going to watch it later

    Reply
  • McGann is the Doctor

    January 17th, 2012 - 11:30am

    Great cover, though I don’t tend to collect the old b+w stories as I’m too busy enjoying the more watchable and amazing 70s-80s era . 😉

    Looking forward to the release of Greatest Show in the Galaxy. Did you know it was ORIGINALLY supposed to take palce before Silver Nemesis of that season ? 😯 ! But they got broadcast the other way round beacuse Silver Nmeemsis had to be the anniversary story. ❗

    Reply
    • gordon

      January 17th, 2012 - 12:15pm

      In my opinion 60’s can be as good and as watchable as the 70’s and 80’s too its just a shame that about 60 percent of the surviving episodes i would discribe as clunkers. I did know about greatest show being shifted. There is a continuity error in nemesis. Ace picks up an earring in greatest show but was already seen wearing it in nemises ie the story before.

    • McGann is the Doctor.

      January 18th, 2012 - 12:23pm

      Yeah ! Not to mention her rucksack detonates on the Cyber-craft in Silver nemesis, then she has it in GSITG.

      Yes, Greatest Show in the Galaxy was meant to be the second story of that season, and Silver Nemesis would have been the season finale.

  • gordon

    January 17th, 2012 - 9:05am

    The main extra is a documentary called searching for peter. Its not a making of. Its Richard bignell and Toby Hadoke on the trail of the illusive writer Peter R Newman. from this clip looks interesting.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nm5rtUxMSQ&feature=related

    Reply
  • gordon

    January 17th, 2012 - 9:00am

    Coming soon trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cddgvs3yGgg

    Reply
  • A Walters

    December 11th, 2011 - 5:25pm

    I love the first cliffhanger of this story!

    Reply
    • McGann is the Doctor

      January 17th, 2012 - 11:28am

      Why, what happens in it ?! 😀

    • gordon

      January 18th, 2012 - 10:58am

      If i recall corectlly a sensorite appears.

    • A Walters

      January 20th, 2012 - 12:44am

      It’s very silent then Ian says “Doctor!” in a menacing whisper (lol), then a sensorite looks through the window of the ship at Ian….cue 60s dramatic music. Brilliant 😀

  • 11matt

    November 29th, 2011 - 7:36pm

    when does is it out this year or next year

    Reply
    • A Walters

      December 11th, 2011 - 5:26pm

      2012

    • gordon

      December 27th, 2011 - 10:44pm

      January 23rd

  • Classic who is cool

    November 20th, 2011 - 7:44pm

    this will be really cool, i have wanted to see this episode but i didnt think it would get released i will definatley be getting this !

    Reply
    • 11matt

      November 24th, 2011 - 6:35pm

      i have not seen any first doctor ones before .

  • Biggest Doctor Who Fan Ever!

    November 19th, 2011 - 9:45am

    Is this true?
    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Doctor-Who-D%C3%A6mons-Jon-Pertwee/dp/B000X1BA50/ref=sr_1_47?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1321692076&sr=1-47

    Reply
    • booboo

      November 19th, 2011 - 10:32am

      they are releasing it yes

    • McGann is The Doctor.

      November 19th, 2011 - 4:13pm

      Oh cool ! Once they’ve released this, I can start my big Jon-Pertwee era collection. a whole YEARS worth of Jon pertwee Dr WHo that I don’t already have 😀

  • Doctor Who DVD Collector

    November 13th, 2011 - 9:18am

    1. The Sensorites
    2. The reign of Terror
    3. Planet of Giants
    4. The Krotons
    5. The Daemons
    6. Death to the Daleks
    7. The Face of Evil
    8. The Nightmare of Eden
    9. Vengeance on Varos SE
    10. The Greatest Show in the Galaxy

    The U.N.I.T. Files:
    11a. Invasion of the Dinosaurs
    11b. The Android Invasion

    Ace Tales:
    12a. Dragonfire
    12b. The Happiness Control

    Revitations 3:
    13a. The Tomb of the Cybermen SE
    13b. The Three Doctors SE
    13c. The Robots of Death SE

    The Legacy Box:
    14a. Shada
    14b. More Than 30 Years in the TARDIS

    Reply
    • McGann is The Doctor.

      November 19th, 2011 - 4:17pm

      So the Nightmare of Eden is getting a SEPERATE release ? YUMMY ! I love that story (haven’t watched it, but I know what it’s like, reading the Novel at the moment).

      Are you sure, how do ya know all this ?

    • Doctor Who DVD Collector

      November 20th, 2011 - 6:46pm

      Well, information collection. Bassically, it’s like a jigsaw puzzle. Information is Collected and is pieced together, bit by bit.

    • jam boy

      January 11th, 2012 - 8:26am

      are they animating shada or are they only showing what they completed?

    • gordon

      January 18th, 2012 - 10:58pm

      Its the 1992 vhs version ie tom narating the blanks

  • time lord 3

    November 12th, 2011 - 8:07pm

    the boxst that contains surviving clips of Shada and 30 years in th TARDIS is called the Legacy Box i think

    Reply
    • time lord 3

      November 12th, 2011 - 8:07pm

      i meant box set not boxst!

    • aarondrwhofan64

      November 12th, 2011 - 8:22pm

      cool pal 🙂

    • gordon

      December 22nd, 2011 - 12:11pm

      Not at all excited for that. 2e had an opportunity to release an animated version of shada that ian levine had put in hundreds of hours of work with his own time and money and they turn him down. A missed oppertunity there.Ian levine cant even sell it himself without the threat of legal action This is what the annimation would have looked like.

      http://www.starburstmagazine.com/features/feature-articles/915-doctor-who-and-the-shada-man

  • Doctor Who DVD Collector

    November 11th, 2011 - 6:16pm

    I guess that’s it for me then.
    This shall be my last comment EVER.

    “One day I shall come Back. Yes, I shall come back. Until then, there must be no regrets. No tears, No anxieteis. Just go Forward in all your beleifs, and proove to me that I am not mistaken in your mind”

    All now I can say is now is : !eman wen

    Reply
  • Doctor Who DVD Collector

    November 10th, 2011 - 6:10pm

    is it true that “Planet of Giants” is CERTAINLY coming out this year?

    Reply
    • Flo Pro

      November 11th, 2011 - 8:28pm

      There are no more DWD (Doctor Who DVD’s) coming out this year dude. =P

    • Doctor Who DVD Collector

      November 12th, 2011 - 10:09am

      No I Meant 2012! Sorry 😳

  • The Whofan101

    November 7th, 2011 - 11:18pm

    according to my calculations, The Sensorites is the 28th best 1st Doctor episode out of 29 episodes (using DWM’s Mighty 200 and Doctor Who: The Complete Guide to create an average), and 147th episode overall (including Shada)

    Reply

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